Newcastle followers are predicting a “raucous” St James’ Park ambiance, with Alexander Isak’s future dominating the lead-up to Liverpool’s journey.
It’s honest to say that relations between the 2 golf equipment have been higher!
Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak has been headline information, with the Swede coaching away from his teammates as he calls for a summer season exit to Anfield.
Newcastle stay adamant that their striker goes nowhere, however for now, consideration has to show to on-pitch issues.
Liverpool head to St James’ for a probably ferocious assembly on Monday, which guarantees to be an enormous check for Arne Slot‘s champions.
Forward of the sport, This Is Anfield’s Henry Jackson spoke to Newcastle fan and author Dave Black (@cm9798) to debate the Isak saga, Monday’s match and extra.
How’s the positivity at Newcastle after the opening weekend?
A little bit of a blended bag.
We had been superb away at Aston Villa – I feel quite a lot of followers had been fearing the worst after taking a beating there in April, plus the overall uncertainty across the membership in the meanwhile.
However we had the higher of the sport and would most likely have gained with a striker…Alexander Isak or in any other case!
There’s a nervousness that there are solely 10 days of the window to go, and our solely senior striker is successfully on strike from taking part in.
Regardless of our greatest efforts, no new striker has are available in.
It does really feel like the ultimate piece of a fairly good jigsaw, provided that the remainder of the dealings have considerably improved the squad.
What’s your tackle the Isak scenario, when it comes to how you are feeling about him?
I really feel very badly let down by him.
Golf equipment bid for gamers on a regular basis, however I really feel like he has taken the nuclear possibility in a short time and backed himself right into a nook.
We don’t know the reality of what he was promised or not, however what we do know is that he was seemingly fairly glad at the beginning of July.
We signed Anthony Elanga, a pal and worldwide teammate of his, however then Liverpool bid after which he wasn’t glad anymore.
I don’t essentially suppose any blame lies with Liverpool there, however I don’t suppose I’m alone in considering there may be extra to it than that.
You solely have to take a look at Eberechi Eze and Illia Zabarnyi, who performed full pre-seasons for his or her golf equipment with offers effervescent away within the background.
They had been skilled to the very finish, and had Isak executed that, I feel it was extra seemingly he could be bought.
However the way in which he has acted hasn’t helped anyone – Liverpool included, for my part.
Do you suppose he’ll keep or go away this summer season?
I feel he’ll keep, unwillingly.
I can’t see Liverpool bidding the asking worth now, and it’s nearly turn into a degree of precept for the homeowners.
Had Isak executed this in Could, we’d have had much more of the window to kind out an acceptable substitute, however the stance appears to be, “why ought to we promote a participant and change him with anyone lesser?”
We aren’t underneath any strain to promote financially, and he has a contract.
What occurs if he’s a Newcastle participant after September 1 is anyone’s guess, however I think he will likely be slowly reintegrated, despite the fact that that appears inconceivable proper now.
Looking forward to Monday, what sort of ambiance are you anticipating?
Raucous. It’s a financial institution vacation, so each units of followers will seemingly be well-oiled.
There’s a disdain for the way in which Liverpool are perceived to have acted via all this, however once more, factually, all we all know is that they have positioned a bid and Newcastle rejected it.
There’s been some “banter” on social media between the 2 units of followers, however I discover all of that fairly tedious.
It’s a huge sport, regardless, and add within the financial institution vacation and the Isak scenario, and I’m anticipating it to be fairly wild.
The place will the important thing battles happen?
Our midfield is our largest energy, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali can do in addition to they did in December on this identical fixture.
However even then, Liverpool nonetheless scored three.
Your new full-backs appear to love a foray ahead and we’re good on the break, so Elanga’s tempo towards probably uncovered defenders may very well be key.
Lastly, what’s your prediction?
I can’t see us scoring many objectives except a striker is parachuted in.
In contrast, you’ve gotten objectives throughout your group – do you even really want Isak? – so I’ll say Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool.
